Investment in the mining sector may have slowed but fears that Weir Group
would suffer similar woes to rival equipment makers, including Sandvik and
Caterpillar, proved unfounded.

The Glasgow-based engineering group, which makes pumps and valves for the
mining and oil and gas industries, reported a narrower-than expected 14 per
cent fall in first-half profits, and insisted it remained on track to meet
full-year revenue and margin forecasts.

Shares climbed 87p higher to £21.57, a rise of 4.2 per cent, as the company
said that any weakness in mining equipment investment should be offset by a
recovery in the American